Cheap Flights to Havana

Flights to Havana land at Jose Marti International Airport (HAV), which is also known as Havana Airport. Just a short drive from the airport lies a world pulsing with Latin rhythms and wide avenues with elegant buildings that evoke Havana's storied past of palaces, pirates and rum-runners. You can glide along avenues displaying lush gardens while in the back seat of a restored 1950s Chevrolet or in a bicycle-powered "ciclo-taxi." Cuba is working hard to renovate historic buildings and main plazas, yet part of the city's charm lies in its romantic ruins from palaces, forts and castles to the rum joints that once played host to literary luminaries such Ernest Hemingway and Graham Greene.

Jose Marti International Airport

Havana Airport is situated in the Boyeros area just 9 miles southwest of Havana via the Avenida Rancho Boyeros. As Cuba's main domestic and international airport, Jose Marti International services millions of passengers annually. Among the international airlines offering flights to Havana are American Airlines, Air Canada, Air France, Cubana de Aviacion, Martinair, Sky King and Virgin Atlantic. The airport is also serviced by numerous regional airlines.

There are four terminals in the airport. Opened in 1988, Terminal 2 is mainly utilized for direct flights bound for the United States or charter flights. Terminal 3 boasts several VIP lounges and offers ticketing on the upper level. The fourth terminal is the hub for Aerotaxi and Aero Caribbean. The airport has numerous restaurants, bookstores, bars, duty-free shops and a pharmacy.

The Arrivals area gives visitors access to several car rental companies, including Fenix, Cubanacar, Rex and Via Rent a Car. The taxi ride to town is 20 to 30 minutes and costs between $20 and $25.

Attractions in Havana

You can stroll the 8 miles of the Malecon, Havana's seaside boulevard, which is especially lovely at sunset when the fading light falls across Centro Habana's old buildings. Wander through the soaring halls of the grandiose Capitolio Nacional, once the seat of the Cuban Congress, or take in everything from Picasso to pop art at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. On a sultry Havana evening, you can sample spicy Cuban cuisine and then head out on the town to enjoy hip jazz joints and piano bars as well as classy cocktail spots and bustling nightclubs.

The best choices for hotels are in Havana itself within about 10 miles of the airport.

Havana Travel Tips

Havana's calendar is packed with carnivals and festivals, including February's International Book Fair and the Habanos Festival. March brings the Celebration of Classic Cars, and spring features May Day parades, the International Blue Marlin Tournament and the International "Old Man and the Sea" Billfish Tournament. As for the nightlife, secluded clubs, tucked-away courtyards and hotel rooftops offer a uniquely Cuban evening experience.

Weather in Havana, as in the rest of Cuba, is hot and sunny through all seasons, making the island a popular year-round destination. Seasonal trade winds offer relief from heat and humidity.